Self-locking nut



v May 2, 1944.

A. H., THOMPSON SELF-maxim NUT.

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Filed Aug. 12, 1942 4Patented May 2, 1944 SELF-LUCKING NUT Arthur H. Thompson, Chicago, Hl., assigner to Thompson-Bremer & Co., Chicago, lll., a corporation oi' Illinois Application August 12, 1 942, Serial No. 454,5Z

(Cl. ISI-14) 5Claims.

The present invention relates generally to selflocking nuts. More particularly the invention shaping or processing of the blank to form the body, sleeve andside wall forming anges;

relates to that type of self-locking nut which is in the form of a one-piece spring metal .stamping and comprises a flat centrally apertured polygonal body, a substantially cylindrical internally threaded sleeve which is `ioined to, and pro. jects in Vone direction from the aperture deilning portion oi. the body and is adapted in connection with use o f the nut to be mounted on a threaded element, such as a screw or bolt, by turning the nut in the proper direction relatively to the element, and a iiangestructure which is joined to the outer marginal portions ofthe body, extends in the same direction as the sleeve, and forms around the sleeve a, polygonal side wall =whereby the nut may be gripped,and turned by a wrench or like tool.

One object of the invention is to provide a self-locking nut' of this type in which the outer or free end of the sleeve is provided with an annular vseries of laterally spaced longitudinally or axially extending notches and the portions of Figure 5 is a section showing the nut after tapping of the inner periphery of the sleeve to form the internal screw thread FigureV 6 is a section showing the nut in its finished form, that is, after the portions of the a second or modified form of the invention applied to a holt.

The nut which is shown in Figures 1 to 7, in-

clusive. constitutes one form or embodiment ofthe invention. It has self-locking characteristics and is shown in Figure 7 in connection with a bolt 9 and a pair of abutting or superposed plates I0 and Il. The bolt exemplies one type or form of externally threaded element on which the sleeve between the notches are bent inwards self-locking nut of the type and character v11n-- der consideration which may be manufactured at an extremely low cost and is characterized by the fact that it is light in weight and is capable of withstanding a comparatively heavy load or clamping pressure.

Other objects of the invention and the various advantages and characteristics ofthe present self-locking nut will be apparent from a consideration 'of the following detailed description.

The invention consists in the several novel features which are hereinafter set forth and are more particularly defined by claims at the conclusion hereof.

In the drawing which accompaniesand forms a part of the instant specification or disclosure the nut may be mounted. It is of conventional design and comprises an externally threadedvthe work, and the nut, when mounted on the shank oi the bolt and tightened as hereinafter described, serves, in conjunction with the head of the bolt, to hold the plates I Il and I I in clamped relation.

The nut under consideration is in the form of a one-piece stamping and is made from the blank that is shown m Figure a. It is preferamy' and in which like numerals of reference denote corresponding partsv throughout `the several views:

v Figure 1 is a bottom perspective of a selflocking nut embodying one form ofthe invention;

Aliigui'e 2 is a top perspective o f the nut of Figum 1;

Figure 3 from which the nut is made; v l

.Figure 4 isa section showing the nut after is a'plan view of the spring steel blankl made of comparatively thin spring steel stock and consists ora ilat polygonal'base or body I2, a cylindrical sleeve I3 and a side wall forming flange structure Il. The body I2 of the nut has f 'a central circular aperture I5 and is illustrated lasY being hexagonal so far aslits outer margin screw thread I6- corresponding in pitch and diametertotheexternalthreadontheshankof Vthe bolt 9. As clearly illustrated inthe draw' and/continuous in character.

A.laterally spaced longitudinally or axially extending notches I'I. These notches are preferably spaced equidistantly andv are of uniform width from the inner ends thereof to the outer ends. 'Ihe portions of the outer end of the sleeve that are separated or spaced apart by the notches are bent or deected inwards, asshown in Figure 6, with the result that such portions are clearly of less diameter than the inner end of vthe sleeve and hence grip with inward pressure the bolt or other externally threaded element to atmete .to the action o'f a pair of coacting dies in order which the nut is applied. The nut, when applied to the/bolt 9, as shown in Figure 7, turns or rotates freely in the direction of the plate I Il constituting the work until the inwardly bent outer or free end portions of the sleeve come into contact with the end of the shank of the bolt. As soon as the nut is turned so as to engage the aforementioned portions of the sleeve with the bolt shank suchportions, due to the fact that they are inwardly bent, grip the shank of the bolt with inward spring pressure. The nut is preferably applied by way of a wrench or like tool so that ready turning thereof may be effected. As 4the nut is turned into engagement or clampedrelation with the workthe outer end portions ofthe sleeve are urged outwards out spring action which results causes such portions so toA grip the shank of the boltwith inward pressure that the nut tends to remain in place. Because of the inherent resiliency of the outer free end portions of the sleeve I3 the nut may'.

only be released from its operative position by applying a comparatively heavy reverse rotative force through the 'medium of a wrench or like tool. 'The inwardly bent outer end portions of the sleeve give the nut its self-locking property or characteristic. 'I'hey are adapted to flex back into their normal inwardly bent'position when the mit is removed from the bolt and serve, when the nut is in place on the bolt. to prevent loosening or rotative displacement thereof. The notches II are preferably six in number and are of such width that the outer or free end portions of the sleeve may be bent inwardsto an appreciable extent.

The ange structure VI4 consists of anges I8 and these correspond in number to, and are associated respectively with, the outer marginal portions of the polygonal body I2. As best shown in Figures 1 and 2, the flanges I8 are joinedto said marginal portions by right angle bends and extend in the same direction` as the Ainternally threaded substantially cylindrical sleeve I3.1 'I'hey surroundand'are spaced outwards of the sleeve and constitute afpoly'gonal side wall whereby the nut may be by a wrench or similar tool in connection with turning thereof. The ends of thev flangesv I3 constituting the ilange structure I4 abutagainst one another' and hence'-theflange'vstructure as a whole is rigid The anges are -the same in height and are so porportioned that Jthe outer'or'free' edges thereof are in. a single to extrude or draw the inner portion I3 and form the vcylindrical sleeve I3. It is contemplated that the dies will simultaneously with the drawing of the inner portion I3* to form the sleeve I3 bend the outer flange portions I8a so as to form the flanges I8 constituting the flange structure Il. 'I'he notches I1 may be formed either at the time the blank is stamped 'or they may be formed in the outer or free end of the sleeve I3 after' the inner portion I3* of the blank has been formed by die action into the sleeve I3; After the blank is subjected to the4 action of the dies the'nut is in the foin shown in Figure 4L At the completion of the die action of the sleeve I3 is tapped, as shown in Figure 5,

to forni the internal screw.. thread I6 correof their normal inwardly bent position and the sponding in pitch and diameter-to the external thread of the shank of the bolt. Thereafter the portions of the outer or free ends of the sleeve that are between the notches 'I1 are'bent or deflected inwards, as shown in Figure 6. In-

ward .bending of such portions of the outer end of the-sleeve may be effected in any suitable fmanner, such, for example, wedging die.

as by a crimping or The nut which is shown in Figures 1 to '1, in-

viouslypointed out, is capable of sustaining or `withstanding a comparatively heavy load or Kinal portion thereof grips the work with spring I clamping pressure. It has special utility as a jam or lock nut and may be produced at a low c'ost -because it is in the form of a one-piece stamping.

' The nut which is shown in Figure 8 comprises a centrally apertured polygonal body I9, a substantially cylindrical sleeve 2l and a flange structure 2|. It is the same as the nut of Figures 1 to '7,.inclusive, except that the centrally' apertured polygonal body I9, insteadv of being dat, is inwardly dished so that it is capable of iiexing in an axial direction with respect to the sleeve 20. The sleeve is axially offset with respect to the outer polygonal margin of the body due to the inward dishing of the body. The outer or free end of-the sleeve has formed therein longitudinally extending equidistantly spaced notches 22, and the portions of the outer end of the sleeve that are between the notches are inwardly bent y so .that they grip with inward spring pressure abutment of the outer marginal portion of the body against the work the sleeve 2l moves towards the work and relatively to the outer marginalportion of thebody andcauses the body.

so to ex toward the work vthat the outer marpressure and assists the outer end portions of the sleeve in resisting reverse rotation of the nut.

' Flexing of thebody in connection with tighteningof the nut is due to the fact that the body that when it is fully tightened the outer marginal portion of the body grips the work with spring part, and having the portions thereof between such notches bent toward one another so that they grip the element with spring pressure, and

Y a polygonal flange structure connected to the pressure and the outer end portions of the sleeve grip the threaded element with inward spring pressure. of the outer marginal portion of the body of the nut against the work and the inward spring pressure grip of the outer ends of the sleeve with respect to the threaded element the nut is effectively retained in place and possesses so-called self-locking properties. Thefnut of Figure 8 is formed in the same manner as the nut of Figures 1 to 7, inclusive, with the exception that when the blank is subjected to the action of 4the coacting dies in order to, form the sleeve and flange structure the body forming portionof the blank is deformed Vso that the body of the complete nut has the desired inward dish type contour.

'Ihe invention is not to be understood as restricted tothe detalls set forth, since these may be modied within the scope of the-appended- Because Vof the spring pressure grip' extending from one end thereof tothe other,

outer marginal portion of the body, extending r in the same direction as the sleeve, having the outer edge thereof coplanar with the louter end edge of the sleeve, and forming a wrenchreceiving side' wa1l around and in spaced relation with the `sleeve.

3. As a new article of manufacture, a onepiece self-locking nut adapted to be mounted on an externally threaded element projecting through a work piece, formed of a comparatively thin spring metal stamping, and comprising a polygonal body adapted to engage the work piece and having an'v aperture in the central portion thereof, a sleeve having an'internal screw thread its outer or free end and terminating adjacent its central part, and in addition having the porclaims, without .departing from the spirit and ing an aperture in the central portion thereof,

y a 'sleeve having an internal screwthread extending from one end thereof to the other, joined to,

and extending in one direction from, the aperture defining portion of the body, adapted when the nut is mounted on the externally threaded element to surround and interiit with the thread of said element and extend away from the work piece, Lhaving longitudinal laterally spaced notches extending inwards from its outer or freeA end and terminating adjacent its central part,

.and also having the portions thereof between such notches bent inwards so that they grip the element with spring pressure,l and a ange structure connected to the outer marginal portion of the body, extending in the same direction as the.'

sleeve, and forming a side wall around and in spaced relationl with the sleeve.

2. As a new article of manufacture, a one-piece self-locking nut adapted to be mounted on an externally threaded element projecting through a work piece, formed of a comparatively thin spring metal stamping, and comprising a polygonal body adapted toengage the work piece. and having an aperture in the central porti'on thereof, a sleeve having an internal screw thread extending from one end thereof to the other, joined to, and extendingin' one direction from, the aperture defining portion of the body, adapted when the nut.. is mounted on the externally threaded element to surround and intert with the thread of said element and extend away from the work piece, having longitudinal laterally spaced notches extending inwards from its outer tions thereof betweenl said notches bent inwards so that they grip the element with spring pressure,'and a Vplurality of equal height anges corresponding in number and connected, respectively, to the outer marginal portions of the body, having the adjacent end edges thereof in abutment and their outer edges coplanar with the outer end edge of the sleeve, extending in the same direction as the sleeve, and forming a polygonal wrench-receiving side wall around and in spaced relation with the sleeve.

4.- As a new article of manufacturas. onepiece self-locking nut adapted to be mounted on an externally threadedelement projecting from a workpiece, formed of comparatively thin stamped spring metal, and comp ing a body adapted to engage the work piece and having an aperture in the central portion thereof, a

. sleeve having an internal screw thread extending from one end thereof to the other, joined to, and extending in one direction from, -the aperture defining portion of the body, adapted when the nut is mounted on the element to surround and intert with said element and extend away from the work piece, having longitudinal laterally spaced notches extending inwards from its outer or free end and terminating adjacent its central part, and in addition having the portions thereof between said notches bent inwardsv so that they grip the element Withv spring pressure, and a ange structure connected to the outer marginal portiony of the body, extending in the same direction as the sleeve, and forming a sidewall around and in spaced relation with the sleeve, said body being inwardly -dished and adaptedwhen the nut is tightened after engagementY of the outer marginal portion of the body with the work piece to flex in the direction of 'the work piece as a result. of. feed of the sleeve toward said work piece and relatively 'to the flange structure, and cause said outer marginal portion thereof to grip the Work piece with spring pressure. 5. As a new -article of manufacture, a one piece self-locking nut adapted to be mounted on.

an externally threaded element projecting from or free end and terminating -adjacent'its central a work piece, formed of a comparatively thin spring metal stamping, comprising a polygonal lbody adapted to engage the `work piece and having a circular aperture in the central portion thereof, a substantially cylindrical sleeve having an internal screw thread extending from one end thereof to the other, joined to, and eX- tending in one direction from, the aperture de'-4 ning portionof the body, adapted when the nutA bent inwards so that they grip the element with spring pressure, and a polygonal iiange con. `nected to the outer marginal portion of the body, `extending in the same direction asthe sleeve, l and forming a side wall around, and in spaced relation with, the sleeve, .said body being inwardly dished and adapted when the nut is tightened after engagement of the outer marginalportion of the body with the work piece to flex in the direction of the Work piece as a result of feed of the sleeve toward said Work piece and relatively to the ange structure, and cause said outer marginal portion thereof to grip the work piece with spring pressure.

ARTHUR H. THOMPSON. 

